As an organization that has historically championed the well being of patients by advocating for physician patient relationships which ensure optimal patient care and well being, the Southern Medical Association (SMA) urges caution in the development, interpretation, and presentation of guidelines such as breast cancer screening that can negatively impact patients.
(PRWEB) January 17, 2010 -- The physician must be responsible for treating the individual patient. Guidelines that are based on data that excludes certain groups that comprise a significant number of our patient population must not be viewed as universally accepted practice. It is up to concerned physicians to make certain that employers, policy makers, regulators, and the public are aware of these critical limitations, and to continue to advocate for their patients, as individuals.
R. Bruce Shack, M.D., President, Southern Medical Association
Michael C. Gosney, M.D., J.D., M.B.A., Chair, Coordinating Committee on Advocacy
Breast Cancer Screening: who will advocate for the patient?
In November 2009, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued breast cancer screening recommendations. These recommendations were based on a case-based analysis, and were “intended to help clinicians, employers, policymakers, and others make informed decisions about the provision of health care services.” It quickly became apparent that these recommendations and the accompanying suggestions for practice would not be universally accepted by clinicians or the public in general, and many quickly rose up to cite these recommendations as the first wave of health care rationing that could become ubiquitous under health care reform.
Physicians strive to provide the best care possible for their patients. The Task Force provides information to inform clinical decisions related to cancer screening. The clinician
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